Herb Wesson City Council President * Solving The Homeless Problem * Marijuana Regulations * Building Better Relationships Between City Hall and Our Neighborhoods

COMMUNITY MEETING WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2017 - 7:15 PM NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL RIVERSIDE & WOODMAN, SHERMAN OAKS

Los Angeles City Council President Herb Wesson will be our guest speaker on January 18, 2017. According to the Times, he is considered “at a minimum, the second-most powerful politician at Los Angeles City Hall.” He has been City Council President since 2011 and previously was Speaker of the Assembly. Council President Wesson’s District runs from Koreatown to . In addition, he has been overseeing District 7 (the northeast Valley) since September 2016 due to Councilman Felipe Fuentes resignation. Many people speculate that Council President Herb Wesson may be the next Mayor after . Attending the Meeting will give you the opportunity to meet with our potential next Mayor, discuss issues they are of importance to you and your family, and emphasize what actions the City Council should take or not take on issues that affect your daily life. Jules Feir announces that Vitello’s will be our Restaurant of the Month. Vitello's has been proudly serving the Sherman Oaks/Studio City community since 1964. At Vitello's you will always find fresh ingredients. From the freshest fish, produce and meats, it all comes together as California Inspired Contemporary Italian cuisine. The chef-driven kitchen produces many classic Italian dishes such as Piccatas, Marsalas and Parmigianas as well as many delicious contemporary dishes. The E Spot Lounge, located just above the Restaurant, features live performances nightly in an intimate 120 seat venue. Vitello’s is owned by Matt Epstein, Vice President and a Member of the Board of Directors of the Association. Enjoy a sampling of their delicious food during our Social Hour that starts at 6:15 p.m. * * * Our 18th Annual Toy Drive was a great success. The toys were collected for the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services. The Agency held a Holiday event for foster children. The toys you donated were the only ones distributed at the event. Thanks to the following officials for attending the event: Our Councilman David Ryu, Supervisor (retired), Los Angeles County Sheriff Jim McDonnell, City Attorney Michael Feuer and City Controller . Also, our State Senator , Councilmen Bob Blumenfield, Assistant LAPD Chief Michel Moore, former City Controller Wendy Greuel, former Assemblyman and current Los Angeles Planning Commissioner Richard Katz, our former Councilman Tom LaBonge and our Assistant City Attorney Neighborhood Prosecutor Tamar Galatzan. Many thanks to Jules Feir (Chairman of the Event), Matt Epstein (fantastic antique cars to hold the toys), Chuck Betz, Goodway Printing and, of course, Marshall Long (Santa Claus). Special thanks to Gelson’s for use of their parking lot, their advertising of the event and the foods and drinks provided. Police and Fire equipment and a trash truck were there for children to explore. Also, a sincere thank you to Council Deputy Alice Roth. * * * Blair Thompson thanks Councilman David Ryu for attending the November SOHA meeting to listen to and address some of the community concerns regarding the Sunkist Icon project by IMT. Councilman Ryu has been very active working to get more appropriate developments in his District. It was clear at the meeting that there are big concerns regarding the impact of this project to nearby neighborhoods as well as the community at large. Large increases of traffic, over-densification, negative environmental impacts, offsite parking, and excessive visual blight were at the top of the list. * * * Jay Beeber reports that the Neighborhood Integrity Initiative, heading for the March 7 ballot, is now known as Measure S. Check out its new website at www.VoteYesOnS.org. The initiative helps protect our community from luxury mega-projects that cause traffic gridlock, the destruction of neighborhood character and the displacement of longtime residents, including senior citizens on fixed budgets.

[482776.2/1234.132] 1 Measure S fixes L.A.’s rigged and unfair planning system in the following ways: Transparency: Right now, wealthy developers are allowed to write the Environmental Impact Reports for their own projects, a glaring conflict of interest that lets them downplay environmental damage that these projects cause. Measure S bans this practice and requires that the traffic and environmental impact be assessed by independent experts, and that the assessment be paid for by the developers. Pay To Play: Official documents show that billionaire developers have showered the City Council with millions in donations. Then, in backroom meetings, the Council breaks its own rules to allow these same billionaires to build more luxury high rises. Measure S will ban these backroom deals and force the City Council to follow its own rules. Traffic: More than 500 intersections in Los Angeles are gridlocked by irresponsible developers, who are currently allowed to ignore the impact that their buildings have on neighborhood traffic. Measure S will end this practice and force developers to prove that each community can absorb the new development. Affordable Housing: Los Angeles has a growing glut of luxury housing, but average people cannot pay their rent. However, the City Council remains only vaguely aware that developers have destroyed 22,000 rent-controlled units since 2000 in order to build luxury complexes. Measure S will rein in this reckless over-development while encouraging more affordable housing. Many of the above problems are reflected in the mega-development planned for the Sunkist site. The developer is requesting at least 7-major zoning changes as well as numerous waivers, exemptions, and special privileges. Also, the developer was allowed to write their own Environmental Impact Report which, not surprisingly, claimed that the massive project would have little to no impact on the surrounding neighborhood. Measure S would help prevent these types of abuses by requiring that developers and the City Council play by the rules, not break them at every opportunity. * * * Bob Anderson indicates that with the passage of Measure M sales tax increase for rapid transit across Los Angeles County, SOHA will now focus on planned transit projects that impact Sherman Oaks and the Valley. Sherman Oaks is the major southern gateway between the Valley and Westside, and home to the Valley’s portion of the Sepulveda Pass subway tunnel. SOHA has submitted a letter to the Council of Governments – they represent the Valley with Metro (Los Angeles Metropolitan Transit Authority). Our letter identified serious concerns regarding Metro’s plan and its impacts. Concern 1 – Sepulveda Pass Express Busway – This project adds dedicated express bus lanes on the I-405 to act as initial “rapid transit” through the pass, in anticipation of the subway tunnel. We are very concerned about the route for the bus service, especially the ingress and egress points in or near Sherman Oaks. Concern 2 – East Valley Transit Corridor – Metro has been planning this project on Van Nuys Boulevard for several years, and it appears that Metro has pre-selected the low-floor tram option because it is cheaper than the best light-rail option. Why doesn’t the Valley deserve the best? In fact, why not a subway? Concern 3 – Sepulveda Pass Transit Tunnel – Metro has not yet fully defined this project and SOHA is very concerned that the entire route through all parts of Sherman Oaks be configured as subway – from the northern terminus at the Orange Line to the southern terminus in Westwood. There should be no part of the route at grade level. Concern 4 – Car Parking at Valley Metro Stations – Measure M included no plan for car parking at Metro stations. SOHA is concerned that Metro has not focused on parking as a means to enhance ridership, as has been effective in other U.S. cities. Many residents cannot walk or ride their bike to stations. * * * We welcome Nancy Sogoian as a member of SOHA’s Board of Directors. Nancy, a California native and 21-year Sherman Oaks homeowner, brings significant communications and business skills from her Marketing and Business Development career with Columbia Pictures, KCET, Disney, Best Buy for Business [482776.2/1234.132]and T-Mobile corporate. By organizing2 and leading a grass-roots effort, working with our Councilmember David Ryu and SOHA, her tireless efforts helped get a protective ICO enacted for Sherman Oaks, for homes better suited to lot size. * * * Board Member Jay Weitzler attended a hearing regarding plans to control Street Vending. One of the projected plan’s key provisions would make street vending subject only to civil penalties, not misdemeanors as is sometimes imposed now. The City is moving forward with developing a plan to regulate vending, generally limiting vendors to two per side of a city block and requiring them to apply for permits. * * * With great sadness we announce that Fran Feir, wife of Jules Feir, has passed away. Jules and Fran have been active members of the Association and the community for more than 30 years. Ever since Jules was made the Mayor of Sherman Oaks by the Los Angeles City Council, Fran became the First Lady of Sherman Oaks. She represented us with style, grace and flair. She will be sorely missed by the community and the Association. Very truly yours,

Richard H. Close, President D

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